Game scoring device with score indicating lights



G. E. KOCHEM Jan. 4, 1949.

GAME SCORING DEVICE WITH SCORE INDICATING LIGHTS Filed July 22, 1946 Figa.

lViLLFm f/@ ,@OGOGOGOOGOGGOOOOOOOO LIML Patented Jan. 4, 1949 GAME SCORING DEVICE WITH sCoaE I INDICATING LIGHTS I 4 George KochemfS-clienectady, N.`Y. n Application July 22, 1946, SeriallNo. 685,305 I 2 Claims.

My invention relates to competitive games, and

particularly to scoring devices for such games.` It is a primary object of my invention to provide a new and improved game scoring device which indicates visually both the present and previous scores of the competitors or team of competitors.

In certain types of competitive games, such as for example the game of shuiile board, the rules of competition require that a record be kept not only of the scoring at each particular moment, but also of the scores of the competitors at the time of the previous scoring opportunity. Accordingly, it is a further object of my invention to provide a new and improved game scoring device which indicates both the score of the individual competitors at the present moment of competition and their scores at the end of the previous scoring opportunity.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a new and improved construction of a score board which gives a clearly defined visual indication of the scores `of the competing'parties.

It is still another object of my invention `to provide a new and improved game scoring device which is easily constructed and easily operated.

` scores of the game which is being scored. Thus,

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with par ticularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and the front cover removed; Fig. 3 is a vertical sec.-

tional view of the device of Fig. 1 taken along. the line 3 3; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a plug and contact used in my game scoring device.

Referring to Figs. 1-3 jointly, I have there il.`

lustrated my game scoring device as comprising an enclosing member or cabinet having a front panel I and a hollow rectangular body portion 2.

The front portion may consist of a pressed liberA board or any other suitable material which contains two parallel sets s, li of vertically aligned apertures. Positioned above the sets 3, 4 of apertures is a translucent panel 5 which may consist,

for example, of glass having a1 frosted surface.

Overlying the apertures and supported on the A translucent member 5 are numerals or indicia 6, successive ones of the indicia 6 in vertical l.

alignment corresponding to successive possible j in theycase of shuilie board for example, 2l. aper* tures are provided in each of the sets 3, 4 and the indicia E ybegn with the numeral. .i positioned A above the uppermost of the apertures and end with the numeral 21 above the lowermost aperture. The indicia Imay comprise any suitable lettering which is opaque to light, such as for example gold leaf letters which are attached to vthe surface of the translucent panel 5.

-Near the upper end of the front panel I are located a pair of apertures l', 8 which are likewise covered with a translucent member and carry identifying. characters 9, Ill which represent .the contestants or competitors in the game.. Vertically aligned on opposite sides of the member 5v are two sets II, I2 of normally open electrical contacts or jacks into which a plug contact may be inserted. Positioned respectively beside each of the sets of contacts Il, I2 are sets i3, Iii of small.k circular indicators which bear indicia corresponding to the indicia 6. Thus, for example, for the game being described, the indicia on the indicators I3, I 4 are numerals 1-21. Positioned pabove the sets II, I2 of contacts are two contacts` orjacks` I5, I6 of the normally closed type and which are operated by insertion of a plug to open the contacts therein. Referring now par ticularly to Figs. 2 and 3, there is contained within thehollow rectangular member 2 a body memn ber ll=having recesses I8 therein which underlie thel sets `of `apertures 3, 4 in the front panel I'. Positioned. within; eachfof the recesses i8 is a sourceof :light .I9 which may be a small electric lamp. The lamps I9 may be of the bayonet-base type and are supported `in a receptacle 2i! adapted to receive this type of lamp. Each of the receptacles`.20 has one electrical contact which is connected by `means of a short conductor 2| to a verticallyarranged supply conductor 22. The receptaolehas its other contact connected by means ofa conductor 23 to one terminal of the one of the sets of jacks II, I2 which corresponds to the particular lamp in question. Thus, the lamp under `the numerall in the set 3 of lamps is connected to the uppermost jack oi the set II ci contacts or jacks.. `This is the Contact which is positioned beside `the indicator bearing the numera] 1. Similarly, any other lamp in the set of lamps,` for example the lamp 42, has its lefthandterminal connected by means of a conductor 23 toone of the contacts ofthe jack in the set I Iopposite theinumeral 2.-'

The jacks of the sets II, Iilfai'e best `seen in Figs?, land 4 and consistofan upper Contact and arranged on opposite sides of said recesses, the contacts in each row being connected with the lights in the adjacent row of recesses, each of said contacts being connected in series with the correspondingly positioned light source, a source Vof electrical energy connected in series with said lights and said metallic members, indicia corresponding to successive scores of a game to be scored supported on adjacent ones of said portions, corresponding indicia positioned adjacent corresponding ones of said contacts, said metallic members having apertures aligned with said contacts, and a movable contact making member for connecting a` desired one of said contacts with its associated metallic member to energize the corresponding light source and illuminate the corresponding indicium associated with said light source.

2. A game scoring device comprising a body member having two adjacent parallel rows of recesses therein, a respective light source positioned in each of said. recesses, an opaque cover enclosing said body member, said cover having translucent portions closing the entrances to said recesses, said portions forming the sole outlet for light from said sources, a pair of metallic members arranged respectively on opposite sides of said body member, two parallel rows of contacts insulatingly supported on said metallic members and arranged on opposite sides of said recesses, the contacts in each row being connected with the lights in the adjacent row of recesses, each of said contacts being connected in series with 6 the correspondingly positioned light source, a source of electrical energy connected in series with said lights and said metallic members, indicia corresponding to successive scores of a game to be scored supported on adjacent ones of said portions, corresponding indicia positioned adjacent corresponding ones of said contacts, said metallic members having apertures aligned With said contacts, a movable contact making member for connecting a desired one of said contacts with its associated metallic member to energize the corresponding light source and illuminate the corresponding indicium associated with said light source, a pair of identifyingl lights positioned respectively adjacent a respective one of said rows of recesses, and a normally closed contact connected between each of said identifying lights and said source, whereby when said device is not in use said contact making members may be stored in said normally closed contacts to extinguish said identifying lights.

GEORGE E. KOCI-lIEM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

